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Diabetes can be menacing and hard to control.  Usually it is not controlled by one thing alone, such as diet, but by a combination of things that work together on the body to regulate diabetes and its symptoms.

Exercise has long been encouraged as one of the tools to combat diabetes.  Studies have shown that exercise has an effect on blood glucose levels, as well as heart rate, blood pressure and other levels in the body.

A recent study in Britain determined that blood glucose levels can be kept under control simply by walking for 45 minutes.  The study, performed by Newcastle University, found that walking improved the body’s ability to store sugar and burn fat.  After a few weeks of doing this regularly, the effects of diabetes was reduced.  This is especially true for individuals with late onset or type 2 diabetes.

A high percentage of cases of diabetes are linked to sedentary lifestyle, which includes a lack of exercise, and obesity, which is often the result of a sedentary lifestyle combined with poor eating habits.

As diabetes progresses – if not treated and brought under control – it leads to blood vessel damage, risk of stroke and heart attack, visual problems including blindness, kidney damage and, because of cardiovascular issues, can result in amputation of limbs.

The studies at Newcastle give individuals with diabetes an immediate tool in the arsenal against the symptoms of diabetes without having to add another medication to their regimen.  Even if an individual starts out for just a few minutes every day and builds up to 45 minutes, it will still do some good.

The Newcastle studies showed that by being more active individuals were able to store more sugar in their muscles and they were able to burn more fat.  This is important information since the muscles store most of the sugar in the body, and if they are unable to absorb enough sugar, the sugar ends up in the bloodstream keeping the levels too high.  This causes damage to the veins, arteries and many of the organs.

If you have diabetes or know someone who does, let them know that they don’t have to spend hours in the gym to try to control it.  Encourage them to walk for a few minutes a day and work up to 45 minutes every day.  It will improve their health and their life, and it very well could save it.